The SBA's proposed new rule governing set-aside contracts for women-owned businesses could apply to as many as 31 industries, the agency has announced.

That's an expansion from the initial rule, which limited the set-asides to four industries and raised a storm of protest from groups representing women business owners as well as members of Congress. Click here to view the final rule.

The new industries range from architectural/engineering services to waste treatment and disposal, but the Washington Business Journal reports that critics aren't satisfied with the revision.

Women-owned businesses received 3.4 percent of federal contracting dollars in fiscal 2007. The goal is for federal agencies to award 5 percent of federal contracts to female owners.

The public has 30 days to comment on the new data the SBA used to determine that women were underrepresented in 31 industries rather than four. Comments are due Oct. 31. Click here to view the SBA proposed rule on new data methodology. To submit comments, go to regulations.gov.